Sibling serendipity

STOCKTON - A freak injury made the Cabrera sisters' dream of a reunion a reality and has given the Pacific women's soccer team a defensive foundation heading into the 2013 season.

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By Jagdip Dhillon

recordnet.com

By Jagdip Dhillon

Posted Aug. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Jagdip Dhillon

Posted Aug. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Today's exhibition

Grand Canyon at PacificKickoff: 7:30 p.m., Knoles Field

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Today's exhibition

Grand Canyon at Pacific

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Knoles Field

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STOCKTON - A freak injury made the Cabrera sisters' dream of a reunion a reality and has given the Pacific women's soccer team a defensive foundation heading into the 2013 season.

Milan and Malaya Cabrera will be returning from major injuries last season, and they will do it as starting defenders for Pacific when the Tigers host an exhibition match against Grand Canyon at 7:30 p.m. today at Knoles Field.

Milan started 52 games at defender for three NCAA Tournament teams at Oregon State before tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament in a spring match that forced her to sit out last fall. She graduated in Corvallis in June with a degree in biology and decided to finish her playing career with Malaya, her younger sister, while pursuing a masters degree at Pacific.

Malaya missed much of last season with a fracture in her right foot but will be a starter this season alongside her sister, just like they were from Canyon High School in Canyon Country and on club teams for hundreds of matches.

"It's unfortunate that this is how it happened, but this is something we always dreamed of and we're so glad to be playing together again," the 20-year-old Malaya said. "It took just a little bit of time for us to get in sync."

The sisters are living together and pushing each other to succeed on and off the field. Malaya is a communication and English major, and they will be graduating together in 2015.

"My mom texted us the other day and congratulated us on living out what we had always talked about," said the 22-year-old Milan. "It was kind of cheesy, but really true."

Pacific coach Keith Coleman believes the Cabreras' happy reunion will also pay dividends on the field for the Tigers as they look to bounce back from a 3-14-1 season.

"She was standout on a Pac-12 tournament team, so we expect her to make a major difference," Coleman said. "The only downside is we only have her for one year, but we still expect her to make a long-term impact."

Coleman believes another year playing with her sister will make Malaya capable of taking over Milan's role as the defensive leader next season. One of Milan's jobs as a leader this season is instilling confidence in what she views as a talented roster.

"I see a lot of talent and now it's a matter of doing the work and individuals becoming one team," Milan said.

Senior forward Maricela Padilla said the Tigers were missing someone like Milan last season.

"She's very vocal and direct," Padilla said. "She's not afraid to tell you what to do, and that's what we need back there - someone to take charge."

The Cabreras are among three sets of sisters involved with the Pacific program this season, joining senior goalkeeper Tashia Long and her freshman sister Matti Long. Padilla's older sister Carmen is the program's fifth all-time leading scorer and currently an assistant coach. Coleman said parents entrusting siblings to the program is a point of pride.